7 Best-Selling Software Automation Books Millions Love

While working as a software developer and educator, Al Sweigart noticed many beginners struggled to see immediate value in coding. This book teaches you how to write Python programs that automate repetitive tasks like renaming files, updating spreadsheets, and scraping web data, making programming accessible and practical. You’ll learn skills such as input validation, email automation, and manipulating PDFs—tools that save time and reduce manual effort. It’s ideal if you’re new to coding but want to quickly apply programming to everyday problems, especially if you handle data or administrative tasks.

Drawing from decades of consultancy and training in software testing, Mark Fewster offers a thorough guide to building effective automated testing regimes. You’ll explore core principles behind automated testing, learn how to design tests that fit your project’s needs, and find practical advice for selecting and applying commercial test execution tools. The book’s detailed chapters walk you through adapting testing tools to various contexts, making it especially useful if you manage or develop software quality assurance programs. While it’s technical, this book benefits software testers and developers looking to deepen their practical understanding of automation tools and methods.

This personalized book explores battle-tested methods for effective software automation testing, combining proven popular knowledge with insights tailored to your unique background and goals. It examines essential testing concepts, practical tool uses, and automation techniques that address your specific interests, enabling a focused learning experience. By matching content to your experience level and objectives, this tailored guide reveals how to optimize test design, execution, and maintenance in real-world scenarios. It covers key topics such as automation frameworks, scripting, continuous integration, and quality assurance, all adapted to help you develop mastery efficiently. This tailored approach ensures you gain relevant expertise without sifting through generic materials, making your learning journey both efficient and engaging.

The breakthrough moment came when Elfriede Dustin and her co-authors recognized that traditional, slow testing methods were no longer viable for modern software development cycles. This book walks you through the essentials of automated testing, from selecting tools to managing test performance, backed by real industry case studies that demonstrate practical application. You'll gain insight into how to integrate automated testing seamlessly into your development workflow, improving both speed and software quality. If you're involved in software development or quality assurance, this book offers a methodical approach to adopting automation without losing control over testing rigor.

The breakthrough moment came when Elfriede Dustin, drawing on over 25 years in IT, distilled her hands-on experience into this guide on automated software testing. You’ll gain a clear understanding of how test automation diverges from manual testing, including what skills and strategies drive success. The book walks you through building a business case for automation, selecting tools, and measuring progress with practical metrics. If you’re involved in software development or quality assurance, this book offers a structured approach to improving your testing efficiency and overall development lifecycle.

The methods Peter G. Martin and Gregory Hale developed while navigating the complex industrial automation landscape provide clear insight into a field often muddled by jargon and rapid technological shifts. This book demystifies core concepts like distributed control systems, programmable logic controllers, and manufacturing execution systems, making it accessible even if you're just starting out or come from a non-technical background. You'll gain a functional understanding that bridges gaps between business, IT, and operations, with practical examples that help ground abstract ideas. If you want a straightforward introduction to industrial automation without wading through overly technical manuals, this book fits that need well.

This tailored book explores step-by-step Python scripting techniques designed to deliver rapid automation wins. It covers essential scripting concepts and practical automation examples, focusing on your interests and matching your background. Through personalized guidance, it addresses your specific goals for fast-tracking software automation skills. You engage with clear explanations of script construction, task automation, and efficient problem-solving methods that emphasize gradual skill building in just 30 days. The content reveals how automation can streamline workflows and accelerate productivity, all within a structure tailored to your pace and focus areas. This customized approach ensures you gain relevant knowledge and actionable scripting experience efficiently.

Jez Humble, with two decades of experience shaping software development across continents, wrote this book to address the chronic delays and risks in releasing software. You’ll learn how to automate the entire build, test, and deployment pipeline, enabling rapid and reliable delivery of new features. The book dives into practical concepts like deployment pipelines, infrastructure management, and collaboration among developers, testers, and operations teams. If you’re involved in software development or operations and want to reduce release pain while boosting quality, this book provides concrete methods and real-world insights that go beyond theory.

Drawing from over 16 years of experience in quality assurance, Daniel J. Mosley offers a methodical approach to software test automation that focuses on practical implementation rather than theory. You’ll learn how to establish data-driven testing frameworks and integrate automated unit, regression, and system tests with manual processes to streamline your testing workflow. The book’s detailed guidance on managing automation projects and adapting tools to fit your environment makes it particularly useful for test developers and QA managers aiming to improve efficiency without overcomplicating the process. If you’re looking for a measured, experience-rooted perspective on balancing automation with practical constraints, this book delivers clear insights.